Larry Grantham, Former Jets Linebacker, Dies At 78

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Former New York Jets outside linebacker Larry Grantham, a starter and defensive standout on the 1969 Super Bowl team, has died. He was 78.

The Jets announced Sunday night that a funeral service for Grantham will be held Wednesday in his hometown of Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

Grantham was an original member of the New York Titans franchise, which became the Jets in 1963 after three seasons. He was a five-time AFL All-Star during his 13 years with the team and was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2011.

“That probably climaxes a career and doesn’t take second place to anything,” Grantham said at the time in quotes posted on the team’s website. “I’m not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and sure, that’s a great, big honor, but to me this honor with the Jets is unbelievable. Just think of all the players they’ve had up there from 1960 till now. It’s something I can’t put into words.”

Grantham had five interceptions and three fumble recoveries as a rookie in 1960, quickly establishing himself as a playmaker for the fledgling franchise. His 43 takeaways remain a franchise career record. He went on to play in 175 of the franchise’s first 182 games.

“I always saw Larry as the captain and the leader,” former defensive end Gerry Philbin told the team’s website. “His football knowledge, the way he skirted around blockers and made tackles, he just surprised a lot of people. Pound for pound, he was the best player on the Jets.”

Grantham had three tackles and two passes defensed in the Jets’ 16-7 Super Bowl victory over the Baltimore Colts in 1969. His last season with the Jets was in 1972, but he returned to the field two years later to finish his playing career with the Florida Blazers of the World Football League.

Former linebacker Larry Grantham waves to the crowd on Oct. 14, 2007, as the Jets honored four of their original New York Titans players who also played on the Super Bowl III championship team. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)

“(Former defensive coordinator) Walt (Michaels) would say Larry was one of the smartest players he ever coached,” said Frank Ramos, the Jets’ longtime public relations director. “And (former head coach) Weeb (Ewbank) always thought he’d make a great coach because he was a coach on the field. Larry was so dedicated, he was an outstanding tackler, and he had a great, long career.”

Grantham was a Jets radio broadcaster for a short time after his retirement before later working in the business and banking industries.

His football career got jumpstarted at the University of Mississippi, where he was selected to the school’s All-Century Team in 1959. He was drafted in the 15th round by the Baltimore Colts in the 1960 NFL draft, but chose to instead play with New York after it made him one of its 32 picks in the AFL draft.

The Jets announced that a visitation will be held Tuesday at Stringer Family Funeral Service in Crystal Springs, with the funeral service Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church.